California farm’s raw cheese sparks E coli outbreak afflicting nine, five of them children
A California dairy already under scrutiny for a fatal outbreak of bird flu in cats is now at the centre of a multistate E. coli outbreak linked to its raw cheddar cheese, federal health authorities have confirmed.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has linked Raw Farm in Fresno, the largest producer of raw milk in the country, to nine infections across three states. More than half of those sickened are children under the age of five, a demographic particularly vulnerable to severe complications from contaminated food. Three people have been hospitalised after contracting the dangerous Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 strain, with one patient developing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).
The Specific Dangers of E. coli O157:H7
Health officials are especially concerned by the presence of the O157:H7 strain. This pathogen produces a potent toxin that can cause severe abdominal cramps and bloody diarrhoea. In the most serious cases, particularly in young children, the infection can lead to HUS, a life-threatening condition where the toxin destroys red blood cells, causing anaemia and potentially leading to acute kidney failure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that unpasteurised milk and raw cheese have been identified as potential sources for such infections, with cases of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) increasing in California in recent years.
The FDA stated that genetic analysis of bacterial samples from the ill individuals showed strong similarities, pointing to a common source. The cases were reported in California (seven), Florida (one), and Texas (one), with illnesses occurring between 1 September 2025 and 20 February 2026.
A Farm’s Troubled History
This is not the first major health scare linked to Raw Farm. In December 2024, the farm was identified as the source of H5N1 bird flu in three Los Angeles-area cats that consumed its raw milk; two of the animals died. Earlier in 2024, the dairy was linked to a large Salmonella outbreak that sickened at least 165 people.
Furthermore, this latest E. coli incident follows a similar pattern from the farm’s recent past. In February 2024, Raw Farm was linked to a previous multistate E. coli O157:H7 outbreak from its raw cheddar cheese that caused 11 illnesses, five hospitalisations, and two cases of HUS. The company had initiated a voluntary recall at that time, which was later withdrawn. Its products have also been associated with earlier E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks linked to raw milk in 2006, 2011, and 2016.
Producer Defiance and Regulatory Pressure
In response to the current outbreak, the FDA recommended that Raw Farm voluntarily remove its raw cheese products from the market. However, the company’s president, Aaron McAfee, has refused. He told NBC News he would not issue a recall without “direct proof” linking his products to the illnesses, stating that 81 retail samples and every batch of cheese and production milk are tested, with all results negative for E. coli.
The FDA confirmed that no products from the relevant time period have tested positive for the bacteria in ongoing testing by state partners, but its investigation and an on-site inspection at the Fresno facility continue. The agency has issued a public outbreak advisory. Separately, the CDC advises consumers to “consider not eating this cheese while the investigation continues” and to thoroughly wash any items or surfaces that may have touched the product.
The stance has drawn political attention. The Congressional Food Safety Caucus has urged the FDA to force a recall of Raw Farm’s products, stating its readiness to strengthen the agency’s mandatory recall authority if necessary. The controversy touches on the broader debate around raw milk, which is not pasteurised to kill harmful germs and has seen a rise in popularity, despite documented health risks.
